Abhay Singh
The Premier League, in response to Manchester City’s plea, has firmly declined the club’s appeal to reschedule the initial two matches of the upcoming 2025-26 season.
This decision came after the club’s manager, Pep Guardiola, conveyed the players’ need for recovery following their rigorous FIFA Club World Cup venture in the United States.
Guardiola expressed disappointment on Friday, emphasizing the challenges players face in managing their physical well-being amidst a demanding schedule.
Some players get only 12 percent of the year to rest
City and Chelsea have secured their spots in the enhanced month-long Club World Cup, set to begin on June 15. The prestigious competition will see these two English clubs face off against some of the best teams across the globe.
As anticipation builds for this prestigious event, the football world is also preparing for the beginning of the Premier League season in August. However, concerns are rising among players and managers regarding the increasingly packed football schedule.
Research conducted by FIFPRO revealed that many players have very limited time off, with some only getting 12 percent of the year for rest and recovery. This issue is shedding light on the growing demands placed on footballers and prompting discussions on the need for more balanced and sustainable match schedules.
“I don’t know if we will play more games than the treble year”
In September, Rodri, a midfielder for City, stated that during their mandatory playing time, players might be in danger of being struck out. Since then, he has missed the entire season due to a knee ligament injury.
Guardiola said “I don’t know if we will play more games than the treble year (2022-23)… maybe we’ll play less games, The Premier League has not allowed us to postpone the first two games for our recovery. Thank you so much. They don’t postpone these games so that will be the moment of, oh, what do we have to do?”
He stated that clubs will find it much harder to control player workloads as a result of the Club World Cup.
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